Congenital Aphantasia

Congenital aphantasia is the most common form of aphantasia, present from birth though typically discovered later in life. Unlike acquired aphantasia, where individuals experience a loss of mental imagery they once had, those with congenital aphantasia have never experienced mental imagery. This can affect one sensory modality (like visual imagery alone) or multiple senses (multisensory aphantasia), impacting the ability to imagine sounds, textures, tastes, or smells. This innate inability to generate mental imagery leads individuals to develop unique cognitive strategies from their earliest development. While the exact causes remain under investigation, current research points to genetic factors and early neural development. Understanding congenital aphantasia provides valuable insights into the brain's natural variation and alternative modes of thinking. On this page, you'll find aphantasia research, first-person accounts of living with aphantasia, and resources exploring the diverse ways people think and learn without mental imagery.